Sign flasher



May 7, 1935- `c, HoTcHKlss 2,000,700

SIGN FLASHER Filed June 25, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet l IllIIHIHIl May 7, 1935- c. HoTcHKlss 2,000,700

SIGN FLASHER Filed June 25 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 7, 1935. c. HoTcHKlss 2,000,700

SIGN FLASHER Filed June 25, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet .3

ALL LAMPS LAMPS 77FLASH OFF `UOHN" LAMPS 77 FLASH JOHN LAMPS 9 l FLASH OE vALL LAMPS FLASH Jol-IN DOE Al Fff V) @s Q A O O O 4, 4f b4 wmbr Patented May 7, 1935 PATENT OFFICE SIGN FLASHER Cliord Hotchkiss, Elkhart, Ind., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Application June 23, 1930, Serial No. 462,951

. s Claims.

This invention relates in general to sign flashers or the like and more particularly to sign ashers of the induction disc type adapted for use in controlling the operation of speller type signs.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a simple, compact and durable organization of an induction disc motor, gearing and mercury switches for controlling the operation of a speller type sign.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of an organization of this character in which the speed of operation of the sign may be varied in an easy and convenient manner while maintaining the desirable sequence of the different phases of the cycle of operation.

Another object is to provide a sign flasher having these advantages and capacities and in which the gearing for e'ecting the varied operation of the several switch elements isenclosed and operates within the housing whereby it is protected against injury from dirt, dust, or the like, and may be run in a bath of grease or oil.

Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of the construction, arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specication, and in which:

Figure l is a view in side elevation showing a sign asher embodying the present invention, parts being broken away and shown in longitudinal vertical section for the sake of illustration; .y

Figure 2 is a view of the sign flasher in front -elevation with a portion of the front plate of the easing broken away to show the internal mechanism; Y

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in front elevation showing a portion of the casing with its front plate removed to illustrate the gearing;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary View in elevation showing the underside of the front. plate and the slotted crank arms; i

Figure 5 is a view in section taken on line 5- of Figure 3 to further illustrate the gearing.

Figure 6 is a diagram of the electrical circuits involved in a typical installation;

Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating the flashing cycle; and

Figure 8 is a schematic wiring diagram of the electrical circuits of Figure 6.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral I designates a casing having a removable front plate 2 normally secured in position by screws 3. A

gasket 4 may be provided between the front plate and the adjacent portion of the casing to prevent leakage of grease from the casing or ingress of water, dirt, or dust thereinto.

At the lower end of the casing and at one of 5 the upper corners thereof attaching brackets 5 and 8 are provided, these brackets being cast integral with the casing in the construction illustrated and having key-hole slots 5' and 6' adapted to coact with headed fasteners of the stationary support which may be the back wall of the box in which flashers of this type are usually installed.

Integral with one web of the bracket 5 is a seat or lug III (see Figure 2) to which the laminated core I I f an induction disc motor designated generally at M is secured by screws I I'. The core I I is of generally U-shaped form and one of its legs is surrounded by the field windings or coil I2, the terminals of which are connected by insulated exible conductors I3 and Il with binding posts I5 and I8 carried by a panel I1 of insulating ma.- aterial. The panel I1 is supported by screws and spacer sleeves I8 and I8' on lugs 2 which may be formed integral with the front plate 2 of the casing. In the space between the legs of the laminated core II, the rotor 20 of the motor M operates, this rotor being in the form oi an induction disc. The upper end of one of the legs of the core I I is provided with an inwardly extending lateral extension IIn and this extension and 30 the upper end of the other leg constitutes the pole pieces of the field and' are provided with shading coils-2| and 22 in the form of endless clips or plates oi' brass or copper set in notches in the pole pieces. The rotor or disc 20 is ilx'ed to one p end portion of a motor shaft 23 supported for rotary movement in a bearing 24 formed in the back wall of the casing I.

Within the casing I, fixed supporting shafts 25 and 2l are provided, these shafts having their rearward ends tightly fitted and suitably secured in supporting bearings 21 and 28 formed on the back wall of the casing I.

On the shaft 25 a large gear wheel 30 is mounted and meshes with and is driven by a pinion 45 29 fixed on the inner end of the motor shaft 23 (see Figures 3 and 5). The gear wheel 30 is fixed I to a sleeve or bushing 3l (see Figure 2) rotatf ably supported on the shaft 25. A small gear 32 is also fixed to sleeve 3l and meshes with a large gear wheel 33 ilxed on a sleeve or bushing STfreely rotatable on the shaft 26 and having a small gear wheel 35 secured to its forward end. This small gear wheel 35 carries a forwardly projecting crank pin 38.'I 'I'he teeth of gear 3 5 mesh with the teeth of a large gear wheel 31 rotatably supported on the shaft 25 and also carrying a forwardly projecting crank pin 38. Withthis arrangement the pinion 29 fixed to lthe motor shaft drives the gear train made up of gear wheels 38, 32, 33, 35 and 31 so as to rotate the gear wheel 35 and its crank pin 36 at a much lower speed than that of the rotor of the motor and the gear wheel 31 at a still'slower speed. The ratio of gear wheels 35 and 31 in the construction shown, is such that the crank pin 38 rotates at one-half the speed of the crank pin 36.

These crank pins 36 and 38 are utilized for tipping mercury tube switches, one at twice the speed of the other, and these switches are so organized in the lamp circuit as to produce a speller effect in the sign. For example, if the sign has its lamps arranged so that when all lamps are illuminated the sign will read John Doe it will be operated with this sign flasher so as to rst flash the lamps forming the word John, then flash the lamps forming the word Doe while holding on the lamps forming the word John, next, flash oi all the lamps, then ash on all the lamps and finally flash ofi' all the lamps and then, of course, repeat the cycle.

In carrying out this purpose the crank pin 35 is engaged in the slot of a slotted crank arm 48 secured to the inner end of a switch operating shaft 4| supported in a hushed bearing 42 provided in the front plate'2. The forward end of the shaft 4| is formed with a reduced extension 43 and a shoulder 44 V(see Figure 1). On the reduced yextension 43 a switch operating arm 45 is supported and adjustably secured and at its lower end carries a clip or switch' holder 4I in which -a mercury tube switch 41 is secured.

The opening of the arm 45 is a free nt on the reduced extension 43 of the operating shaft but this arm is held in anyangular adjustment as well as against axialmovement by means o! a resilient clamping arm 48 secured at one end to the arm 45 by the same rivet employed for fastening the arm 45 to the switch clip 43 and having its other end notched and straddling the reduced extension of the switch operated shaft in between the shoulder 44 of this shaft and the arm 45. A washer 58 is fitted on the shaft and clamped against the arm A45 by means of a nut 52. The resilient tensioning ,arm 43 is constructed so as to inherently -tend to ex or bend and when compressed or bent back to the straight position shown in Figure 1, it puts the threads between the nut 52 and the reduced extension 43 of the shaft 4| under tension thereby jamming or binding the nut against displacement and frictionally holding the arm 45 against angular displacement although permitting of ready adjustment when the nut 52 is backed oil.

Similarly, the crank pin 38 is interconnected witha slotted crank arm i8 fixed to the inner end of a switch operating shaft 8| supported in rocking movement in a bushed bearing 82 provided in the front wall of the casing. n this 'shaft 6| -a switch operating arm 83 identical with the arm 45 is adjustably mounted in exactly the same manner as the arm 45 is mounted on its shaft. 'I'he arm 33 carries a switch clip 84 supporting a mercury tube switch 35.

As fully shown in the diagram (Figure 6) and as illustrated to some extent in Figures 1 and 2, one of the electrodes of the mercury switch 41 is connected by a exible insulated wire 18 to the binding post I5. 'Ihis binding post is electrically connected to a binding post 1| connected to one side of the line 12. The other electrode of mercury switch 41 is connected by an insulated flexible conductor 13 with a binding post 14 electrically connected to a second binding post 15 which connects to a conductor 16 leading to a set of lamps designated at 11. The other side of the line designated at 18 is also connected to lamp 11 so that whenever the mercury in the switch 41 bridges its electrodes. the lamp 11 will be illuminated. The field coil I2 is constantly connected acrossthe line by virtue of the connection of its terminals to binding posts I and I6, the binding post I6 being electrically connected to adjacent binding post 8|, which, in turn is connected by a wire 82 with the other side of the line.

A conductor 83 connects the wire 16 with a v binding post 81 carried by an insulating panel 88 supported on the upper portion of the removable front wall 2 in much the same manner' as the panel |1 is supported. This binding post 81 is electrically connected with a second binding post 89 of the panel 88 and thebinding post 89 connects by a flexible insulated conductor 90 with one of the electrodes of the mercury switch 65.

The other electrode of this mercury switch connects by a flexible insulated conductor 9| to a binding post 92 which is connected to a binding post 93 electrically connected to one end of a conductor 94 leading to the second bank or set of lamps designated at 95. The other side of the lamps 95 are constantly connected by a conductor 96 to the other side of the line designated at 18.

With this arrangement the high speed mercury switch 41 is a master switch and unless the mercury therein bridges its electrodes no current can flow to the lamps 95 even though the switch 85 be closed.

'I'he on and oi ratio adjustment is effected by first tipping or adjusting the high speed master switch 41 on its shaft 4| so that switch 41 will be on or closed about two thirds of the time and open or oil about one third. The .switch 85 is adjusted angularly with respect to its shaft 'so that it turns on or closes the circuit'about half way between the rst on and off of the master switch 41 and stays closed or on until after the master lswitch 41 turns oi or opens the circuit the second time.

As a result of this organization and adjustment of the switches and because of the driving of the switch 41 at twice the speed of the switch 65, the cycle of operation illustrated diagrammatically in Figure 7 may be had. Thus, as' shown, the high speed master switch 41, when first closed, ashes the lamps 11, which, for example, may be arranged to spell the name John. While the lamps 11 are still held on the switch 65 will close so that the lamps 95 (which may be arranged i'or example to spell the name Doe) will ila-sh. Then the switch 41 will open which extinguishes both sets of lamps. While the switch 55 stillremains closed the switch 41, moving at the highest rate of speed, again closes and flashes both sets of lamps simultaneously. Next,

both switches 41 and 85 are turned to the oil."v

straddle to the desired extent the periphery of the induction motor. By varying the degree of straddling the eil'ect of the permanent magnet is regulated and the induction motor slowed up to the desired extent. Of course, this permanent magnet may be moved away from the rotor of the induction disc motor so that it will not have any appreciable effect thereon.

In accordance with conventional practice, a

suitable switch is incorporated in the supply lines to the flashers to permit it to be thrown into and out of operation at will.

The invention claimed is:

1. In combination, an electric circuit, a source of current therefor, two sets of lamps connected in parallel in said circuit, a master switch incorporated in said circuit between one side of the source of current and both sets of lamps and having entire control of one of said sets of lamps,`

an auxiliary switch connected in series in said circuit between the master switch and the other set of lamps only whereby one set of lamps is energized solely under the control of the master switch and the other set of lamps is energized under the joint control of the master and auxiliary switches, and means for periodically opening and closing said switches at different periods.

2. In combination, an electric circuit, a source of current therefor, two sets of lamps connected in parallel in said circuit, a master switch connected in series in said circuit with both sets of lamps, an auxiliary switch connected in series in said circuit between the master switch and one set of lamps only, and means for opening and closing said master and auxiliary switches and maintaining the same open and closed for different periods whereby the lamps are flashed successively and simultaneously during an operating cycle.

3. In combination, an electric circuit, a source of current therefor, two sets of lamps connected in parallel in said circuit, a master switch connected in series in said circuit with both sets of lamps, an auxiliary switch connected in series in said circuit between the master switch and one set of lamps only, means for opening and closing said master switch periodically, and means for operating the auxiliary switch at a. relatively lower speed and acting to move the auxillary switch to closed position only while the master switch is closed and to open position only while the master switch is open.

4. A sign flasher comprising an electric circuit, a source of current therefor, two sets of lamps connected in parallel in said circuit, a master switch connectedin series in said circuit with both sets of lamps, an auxiliary switch connected in series in said circuit between said master switch and one set only` of said lamps, operators for closing and opening said switches, adjustable connections between the operators and the switches to variably relate the periods of OiT' and On" of one switch with respect to those of the other switch, and means for actuating said operators at different speeds, whereby the periods of one switch during a cycle of lamp operations alternately oppose and correspond with the periods of the other switch.

5. A device of the character described comprising an electric circuit, a source of current therefor, two sets of lamps connected in parallel in said circuit,a master switch connected in series in said circuit with both sets of lamps, an auxiliary switch connected in series in said circuit between said master switch and one set only of said lamps, and means for alternately moving the master switch to closed and open positions and for moving the auxiliary switch from openrto closed position during the ilrst and each successive odd numbered period that the master switch is closed and from closed to open position during the second and each successive even numbered period that the master switch is open.

6. A device of the character described comprising an electric circuit, a source of current therefor, two sets of lamps connected in parallel in said circuit, a single pole single throw master switch connected in series in said circuit with .both sets of lamps, a single pole single throw auxiliary switch connected in series in said circuit between said master switch and one set only of said lamps, and means for alternately moving the master switch to closed and open positions and for moving .the auxiliary switchto its closed position at approximately the middle of the rst period that the master switch is closed and to its open position during the last open period of the complete operating cycle of the master switch.

7. In combination, an electric circuit, a source of current therefor, two sets of lamps connected in parallel in said circuit, a master switch connected in series in said circuit with both sets of lamps, an auzdllary switch connected in series in said circuit vbetween said master switch and one set of lamps only, and means for causing alternate periods of the Off and On positions of said switches, said master switch having double the number of periods of said auxiliary switch, said periods being so related that during the cycle of lamp operation said sets of lamps will successively light and then simultaneously flash "on". Itoni' Non"I 8. In combination, an electric circuit, a source of current therefor, two sets of lamps connected in parallel in said circuit, a master switch connected in series in said circuit with both sets of lamps, an auxiliary switch connected in series in said circuit between said master switch and one set of lamps only, means for opening and closing said switches, said master switch having CLIFFORD CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Parent No. 2,000,700. i May 7, 1935.

CLIFFORD HOTCHKISS.

lt is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 3, second column, strike out lines 20 to 35 inclusive, comprising present claim 6; and lines 36 and 50, for vthe claim numbers appearing as "7 and 8" read 6 and 7 respectively; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealcdth'is 18th day of June, A. D. 1935.

(Seal)` i Acting ComnlfsstioI-rblefnten ts. 

